NHL Power Rankings: The Stanley Playoff Teams Are Set

Welcome back to the final edition of NHL Power Rankings here at Full Press Hockey for this season. 

The NHL’s regular season is slowly winding down and the 16 teams vying for the Stanley Cup are set. It was quite a week to close out the regular season with playoff spots and seeding on the line. At the top of this week’s NHL Power Rankings, there is a bit of a change with the Colorado Avalanche slipping down a couple of spots. While the Florida Panthers again hold the top, it is the St. Louis Blues that continue to make noise. And while there could be some disagreement, this week’s NHL Power Rankings are the 16 teams that made the playoffs followed by those that missed. Outside of the changes at the top let’s see what other changes there were.

Time to dive into the NHL Power Rankings and find out where these teams stand.

NHL Power Rankings

1. Florida Panthers (Previous Ranking 1)

The Panthers’ 13-game winning streak came to an end along with their 11-game home winning streak. Florida has great depth on their team and has four lines that can score. All eyes will be on the Panthers as they enter the playoffs. This team is dangerous and has the potential to make some history.

2. Calgary Flames (Previous Ranking 3) 

Should we be surprised anymore about what Darryl Sutter has done with this Flames team this year? The fact that Johnny Gaudreau and Matthew Tkachuk wanted to play for him says a lot. Calgary has a real opportunity to make a deep run in the playoffs.

3. Colorado Avalanche (Previous Ranking 2) 

Colorado has been the best team all season in the West. Outside of their four-game losing streak, the Avalanche have been near the top of these rankings. Concerns about Darcy Kuemper are real heading into the playoffs. Colorado has the team to win it all this season, but everything rides on their goaltending holding up.

4. St. Louis Blues (Previous Ranking 6) 

The St. Louis Blues are back inside the Top Five. They deserve to be here by the way they are playing. 14-1-2 over their last 17 games says a lot in and of itself. Jordan Kyrou and Robert Thomas have really taken steps forward for this team this season and are reasons why the Blues have a chance to win as they did in 2019.

5. Carolina Hurricanes (Previous Ranking 11)

The Hurricanes are battling some injuries right now, but have found a way to win five games in a row to win the Metro Division. It appears the injury to Frederik Andersen was not that severe and he will be back for the playoffs. While Carolina is not talked about that much, they have assembled a team that can make a run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

6. Minnesota Wild (Previous Ranking 7) 

How about those Minnesota Wild? They were riding a five-game winning streak until they dropped on to the Arizona Coyotes. Their first-round matchup with St. Louis will be fantastic. Kevin Fiala has turned into the goal scorer everyone thought he would be in Nashville. Then there is Matt Boldy who has 38 points in 44 games this season including an 11-game point streak.

7. Tampa Bay Lighting (Previous Ranking 10)

And just like that, the two-time defending Stanley Cup Champions have flipped the switch coming down the stretch of the regular season. With their recent performances, the Lightning put to bed any chatter they looked tired and worn down. This team has been there before and knows what it takes to win now.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs (Previous Ranking 4) 

The Maple Leafs are looking to get home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Toronto has been playing better and that comeback the other night shows they are willing to fight for a victory. Can they translate it into the first round of the playoffs?

9. Edmonton Oilers (Previous Ranking 8) 

There is a lot of hope in Edmonton to get past the first round. It is nice to see this team playing well. The Oilers have a good mix through their top-nine forwards. Questions remain on defence and in between the pipes. For the Oilers’ sake and for the sake of hockey hopefully, we can see Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the second round.

10. New York Rangers (Previous Ranking 5) 

Who would have thought the New York Rangers would be challenging for the number one seed in the Metro Division? New York has proven a lot of doubters wrong because there were some who did not think this team would make the playoffs this season. The focus now turns to win a playoff series.

11. Washington Capitals (Previous Ranking 9) 

Weeks ago the Capitals were left for dead at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, now with their record-setting point, all eight teams in the East that made the playoffs have at least 100 points. Oh yeah, they are still battling Pittsburgh for third in the Metro.

12. Boston Bruins (Previous Ranking 12) 

The Bruins are finding their groove again. Having David Pastrnak back in the lineup helps their cause heading into the playoffs. Boston had struggled to score goals, but with him back in the lineup, the team’s balance is back. Don’t underestimate this team come playoff time.

13. Los Angeles Kings (Previous Ranking 17) 

It just felt like the Kings were fighting for their playoff lives and now they find themselves in the playoffs. The party crashers hung around all season and took advantage of their easy schedule. Can the Kings do the impossible and pull the upset in the first round?

14. Pittsburgh Penguins (Previous Ranking 13)

The Penguins are struggling and this is not the time to do it. Not having number one goalie Tristan Jarry in between the pipes definitely hurts this team. It is on Casey DeSmith to get the job done. If you are a Penguins fan you do not feel confident about your team heading into the playoffs. It could be another year of one and done for Pittsburgh.

15. Dallas Stars (Previous Ranking 15) 

The Stars controlled their own destiny when it came to the playoffs. Dallas of course did it the hard way, but they are back in the playoffs. If Dallas wants to win a round in the playoffs they need more than one line to score goals.

16. Nashville Predators (Previous Ranking 16)

Nashville wants to finish the season strong and hold onto the first wild card spot in the West. Matt Duchene has found new life this season with 41 goals and is focused on hockey again. Filip Forsberg has potted 42 goals this season, you hope the Predators can sign him this off-season.

17. Vegas Golden Knights (Previous Ranking 18)

The Vegas Golden Knights have no one to blame but themselves for coming up short this season. Injuries aside, management made some questionable moves leading up to this season taking away from what made this team so special in their first two seasons.

Around FPC

---

NHL: This Maple Leafs Team Could Be The Best In The Past 50 Years

NHL: NHL Insights: Western Conference Wild Card and Divisional Races

NHL: Progress Through Pain: New Jersey Devils Produce Four 20 Goal Scorers

NFL: NFL Community Pays Tribute To Tom Brady Following Retirement Announcement

Wrestling: Wrestlemania Should No Longer Be A Two Night Event

PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 20: Jack Eichel is Back, The Montreal Canadiens Free Fall, and USA vs Canada

---

18. Vancouver Canucks (Previous Ranking 13) 

The Canucks gave it a good run while it lasted. Vancouver had to do the impossible by winning out and getting help in order to make the playoffs. That was a tall task. Hopefully, Bruce Boudreau is back next season. He has done wonders for Elias Pettersson.

19. Buffalo Sabres (Previous Ranking 25) 

Like a lot of the teams near the bottom of the power rankings, the Buffalo Sabres have caught fire at the end of the season. The Sabres are on a four-game winning streak. Tage Thompson is closing in on 40 goals. That is a heck of a feat. Let’s see if Buffalo can take that momentum into next season.

20. Winnipeg Jets (Previous Ranking 19) 

The Jets have some tough questions heading into this off-season. Mainly surrounding the general manager and coach. Not to mention, does management feel this core is good enough to keep it together going forward?

21. New York Islanders (Previous Ranking 20) 

The New York Islanders gave it a good run and every player on the team feels the disappointment of not making the playoffs. You have to wonder where the Islanders go from here. They need goal scoring and they must get younger.

22. Ottawa Senators  (Previous Ranking 23) 

The Senators have good young pieces and they have a bright future ahead of them. Tim Stutzle, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris, Thomas Chabot, and others. If they can build around these playoffs, Ottawa will be a tough team to play against especially with Anton Forsberg between the pipes.

23. Columbus Blue Jackets (Previous Ranking 21) 

The Blue Jackets gave it their best effort this season. It will be interesting to see where this team goes in the off-season. Their priority will be getting Patrik Laine signed to an extension.

24. New Jersey Devils (Previous Ranking 22) 

The Devils are showing signs of progress. You have to wonder where New Jersey would have been with two healthy goalies and a healthy Jack Hughes.

25. San Jose Sharks (Previous Ranking 31) 

The Sharks are closing the season out on the right foot. San Jose wanted to play spoiler and they have. But focus turns to a new general manager and there is work to be done if this team is going to compete next year.

26. Seattle Kraken (Previous Ranking 26) 

The Kraken are exactly what an expansion team should be. However, unlike, Vegas they failed to make the playoffs. That was a lofty goal if they in fact made it their goal. Let’s see what year-two brings in Seattle.

27. Chicago Blackhawks (Previous Ranking 27) 

Alex DeBrincat wants to be a part of the solution in Chicago. However, there is a lot of money tied up in three players. Mainly Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, Chicago has to decide are those two apart of the future going forward?

28. Montreal Canadiens (Previous Ranking 24)

Nothing is going right in Montreal this season. It hasn’t since the beginning of the year. The honeymoon period is over for Martin St. Louis. Jeff Gorton knows how to turn teams around. He did it in New York.

29. Philadelphia Flyers (Previous Ranking 29) 

Chuck Fletcher cannot bring the same coaching back next season. The Flyers may not be that far off from making things in the Metro a little more interesting. It will take some work and time, but there is a nice foundation there.

30. Anaheim Ducks (Previous Ranking 28) 

There was so much promise at the beginning of the season and leading into the trade deadline for this Anaheim Ducks club. Pat Verbeek has his work cut out for him this offseason.

31. Detroit Red Wings  (Previous Ranking 30) 

Pressure is on Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings to take the next steps in their rebuild next season. For so long Detroit was able to hang out, but just completely fell off the cliff to end the season.

32. Arizona Coyotes (Previous Ranking 32)

Something has to change in the desert. The Arizona Coyotes are just dreadful. Since moving to the desert in 1996, they have gotten to the playoffs only four times. It has been more heartbreak than prosperity. Their fortunes have to change at some point.

That does it for this edition of NHL Power Rankings… Stay Tuned as the NHL Power Rankings take a hiatus until next regular season.